The build up to the 2012 London Olympics provides an excellent hook to engage students all round the world in learning about Britain. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from 27 July to 12 August 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympics Games from 29 August to 9 September. London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. 205 nations will take part in more than 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012. 147 nations will take part in the coming Games.

Administrators estimate that over 8 million tickets would be available for the London Olympic Games and over 1.5 million tickets for the coming Games. It is estimated at 80 of available Olympic tickets and 65% of coming tickets will be sold. The representatives aims to raise £3780—£410 million in ticket sales. There are also some free events like, the marathon, triathlon and road cycling, though for the first time in Olympic history, the sailing events will be ticketed. Tickets for the London Prepares series.

International Olympic Committee rules people applied for tickets from the (No Objection Certificate) of their country of residence. European Union residents were able to apply for tickets in any country.

In Great Britain, ticket prices range is from £20 for many events to £2,012 for the most expensive seats at the opening ceremony. Free tickets were given to military personnel, and children were invited to win tickets. Free tickets were also given to the survivors and families of those who died during 7 July 2005 London bombings. Initially, people were able to apply for tickets via a website from 15 March 2011 until 26 April 2011. There was a huge demand for tickets, with 1.8 million people applying for 20 million tickets — three times the 6.6 million tickets available in the first round lot, with 95% of the applications from Great Britain. More than 50% of the sessions went to a random ballot. Over half the people who applied got no tickets, and the process was widely criticized, with a consumer group questioning the point of taking money out of people’s bank accounts before they knew which tickets they had successfully purchased and triple Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins labeling the process a shambles.